Food Market Analysis

FOOD MARKET ANAYLSIS

*Please note, the Food Market Analysis Major will no longer be accepting new students. If you are a current LFS student and started the major prior to the 2019 Winter Session, you may complete your degree using the requirements listed below. If you are new to the Faculty and wish to study topics like this, please look to applying to the Bachelor of Science in Food and Resource Economics (a second-year entry program), which you can learn more about here. To discuss options, please consult with LFS Student Services.*

Imagine shaping a multinational food corporation’s marketing strategies based on information you’ve researched and analyzed. Or advising on how to price a new product for the strongest sales. Picture the deep sense of satisfaction from influencing company direction based on your own wisdom and knowledge. It’s entirely possible when you graduate from UBC with a major in Food Market Analysis. In this program, you’ll combine food science skills with a thorough understanding of the management and marketing of food, diving deep into things like food policy and trade issues, managing risk in export markets, and the industrial structure of international food markets.

What You Need to Know

*Please note, the Food Market Analysis major will not be accepting new students as of 2019 Winter. The information below is for current Food Market Analysis students only.*

The world of food is constantly changing — and change is coming faster than ever before. A career in food market analysis is fast-paced and constantly evolving; it’ll challenge your capabilities to think on your feet, spot promising new developments in the sector, and make intelligent decisions. UBC’s Food Market Analysis major in the Food, Nutrition and Health (FNH) program combines deep learning in food science with a fluid understanding of the management and marketing of food. You’ll obtain a broad socioeconomic perspective of issues in land and food, and you’ll be able to apply this understanding to the forces at work in the industry. If at the end of your degree you find you’ve only just scratched the surface, and if your interests lead you deeper, you can take your studies even farther by pursuing a research-based masters or PhD degree, a professional Master of Food and Resource Economics, or a Master of Food Science.

In the Food Market Analysis program, you will merge the core courses of the Food Science major with enriched learning in economics, commerce and food resource economics. Throughout your program, you’ll develop a core understanding of the fundamental principles of food science and its relationship with the management and marketing of food. Your work will see you applying the principles of economics and business management to develop forward-thinking analytical tools and an effective understanding of food markets. And when you graduate, you’ll be prepared to take your expertise into the food industry with a special focus on market analysis. If you want to concentrate on certain specific areas within the Food Market Analysis program, or if you’re interested in pursuing graduate studies in this field, you should consult your program advisor, Rick Barichello.

In Food Market Analysis, you will take a combination of degree requirements (required of all students) and restricted electives (courses selected from a curated list of approved electives). You’ll also be able to take a limited number of unrestricted electives (courses you get to pick yourself).

All Food Market Analysis students need a strong foundation in the sciences, so you will take first-year chemistry, math and biology before moving into the subject-specific courses. Later on in the program, you will focus more on the business side of things in courses such as:

FRE 295: Managerial Economics

FRE 306: Introduction to Global Markets

FRE 302: Small Business Management in Agri-food industries

FRE 374: Land and Resource Economics

FNH 403: Food Laws, Regulations and Quality Assurance

FRE 420: The Economics of International Trade and the Environment

FRE 460: Economics of Food Consumption

To see the complete list of required courses for this program, please consult the UBC Academic Calendar. Current students, please use the ‘Degree Navigator’ tool in your Student Service Centre (SSC) to track your progress.

Minors

You may choose to supplement your Food Market Analysis major with a minor program, which involves taking courses in a subject area outside of your specialization. As a student in the Food Market Analysis program at UBC, you are eligible to apply for a Minor in Arts, a Minor in Science, a Minor in Fermentations, a Minor in Sustainable Food Systems, or a Minor in Kinesiology. See the list of program requirements here. To learn more about minors, including application timelines, click here.

Due to significant content overlap, Food Market Analysis students are not eligible for the Minor in Commerce.

Dual Degree with Master of Management

If you’re interested in complementing your LFS degree with a strong foundation in management, consider applying for the Bachelor of Science (Food, Nutrition and Health) – Master of Management Dual Degree. Please note: admission to this program is primarily available to students coming directly out of high school. Depending on enrolment, the UBC Sauder School of Business may release a limited number of spaces on a competitive basis to students who are going into their third year at UBC (or those who are transferring to UBC for their third year). For more details about this dual-degree program option and how to apply, please see the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration section of the UBC Academic Calendar.

Please note, if you are in the Food Market Analysis major and the Dual Degree with Master of Management program, you are not permitted to take certain COMM courses as part of your program, due to significant content overlap. Please view the list here, and contact LFS Student Services or your Program Advisor with any questions.

If you are a current FNH student interested in the Food Market Analysis major, you will be prompted to select your specialization through your Student Service Centre (SSC) when registering for second year. This major is not competitive.

If you are a high school, college or university student and you want to major in Food Market Analysis at UBC, you should apply for the Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health. You can learn more here.

Where Can a Degree in Food Market Analysis Take You?

LFS graduates in Food Market Analysis are prepared for employment in the food industry with a special interest in analyzing various food markets. With this UBC degree in your arsenal, you can pursue careers like:

marketing manager

food trade analyst

food policy economist

product development scientist

food technologist

Get a head start on your career-related work experience while you’re at UBC. Check out our job board for postings that relate to your field of study!

Got Questions?

If you are a prospective or current student with questions about planning for or choosing this major, or if you have questions about how your transfer credits apply, get in touch! One of our academic advisors in LFS Student Services will be glad to help you.

If you are already in the major and have specific questions about restricted electives and directed studies, please contact your program advisor, Rick Barichello.